HC Deb 05 February 1998 vol 305 cc785-6W
Yvette Cooper

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements have been put in place for the future management of the British Coal Corporation. [28564]

Mrs. Beckett

At the end of December 1997, most of the Corporation's remaining property was transferred to the Coal Authority, and the outstanding actual and contingent liabilities for accident and health damage claims were transferred to the DTI. In light of the greatly reduced scale of activity, I have decided that the future management of the Corporation should be provided from within the DTI (Coal Directorate) at 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H OET. I have accordingly appointed Mike Atkinson as Corporation Chairman with effect from 1 January 1998. I have no immediate plans for the dissolution of the Corporation.